MORNINGTON peninsula paramedic has been recognised in the recent Australia Day 2023 Honours list, with an Ambulance Service Medal (ASM).
Rogers started her service with Ambulance Victoria in 2001 as an advanced life support paramedic, quickly advancing within five years to senior team manager.
She has also undertaken numerous interim roles in emergency management as well as group manager roles, and currently works in operational service and holds the position of senior team manager on the Mornington Peninsula.
Rogers has made a significant contribution in the area of community engagement. Her tireless efforts and passion for improving community training and response to cardiac arrests on the Mornington Peninsula has been outstanding.
Her work has resulted in an increase in the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) within the community by ensuring existing AEDs are registered, and by liaising with the community to convert private AEDs to publicly registered AEDs with 24-hour access to all.
Leading community engagement CPR training (Call-Push-Shock) sessions for over 600 members of the public, together with attending community events to encourage community members to join the GoodSAM initiative, Ms Rogers and her team were able to forge strong relationships with community leaders, stakeholders, and the broader community. This led to securing the donation of over 24 additional AEDs for the district. Furthermore, this close community effort resulted in the Mornington Peninsula Council seeking to work with Ambulance Victoria to ensure more AEDs are located in local businesses.
Ms Rogers and her team were successful with internal campaigning at Ambulance Victoria, securing a seasonal Advance Life Support Paramedic Single Responder Unit within the geographically remote areas of Flinders, a small sea-side town, and Red Hill, a small rural town, both located on the Mornington Peninsula.
During her 21-year career at Ambulance Victoria, the organisation said there was no doubt that Roger’s efforts, with the support of her team, would result in saving countless lives and improving the resilience and capability of the community.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 February 2023
